The Tylorstown Band has given their musical support to a high profile campaign to help small and emerging businesses encourage people to shop and trade within their local communities.

‘Small Business Saturday’ has proven to be a media savvy campaign by the Federation of Small Businesses, with their ‘Keep Trade Local’ shopping bags becoming a clever and visible sign of their success.

Musical chord

And as FSB spokesperson Iestyn Davies (above — with the band and MP Owen Smith) told 4BR, using a brass band to help the spread the message has certainly struck a musical as well as business chord with the public.

“It’s amazing how effective a brass band can be in helping get an important message across. It’s the epitome of what is good about a local community — something small businesses strive to be themselves.

Get a brass band to play in a town centre shopping area and crowds flock around. That’s good for the band and in turn, that’s good for those local businesses.”

MP support

The band was supported by the local MP Owen Smith as they played to shoppers and shopkeepers in Pontypridd, and he noted how traders had told him how they missed the sounds of brass signaling the start of the festive shopping season.

Tylorstown’s MD Gary Davies, who is a member of the FSB, told 4BR: “The High Street used to be the performance hub to a local brass band, but just like the shoppers, over the years even they have moved into the comfort of the out of town superstore to try and raise much needed funds.

Today there was something special about playing outside local shops, as people took the time to stop and listen and to talk to the band.”

Get a brass band to play in a town centre shopping area and crowds flock around. That’s good for the band and in turn, that’s good for those local businessesFSB spokesperson Iestyn Davies

Youth band launch

Following the recent launch of the Rhondda Fach Youth Band the time on the High Street was also provided the perfect opportunity for the band to spread the word about the their plans to inspire future generations of young brass band players.

Band Manager Kevin Jones added: “It’s been a long but successful year, but with the Rhondda Fach Youth Band launch we are showing our local community that there is something of great value to be part of close to home.”